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What was unexpected was that when I did the search the HD channel didn't show in the list. Only the VOD selections. I had to go to the guide and select the recording from it. And yes, the HD version is in my favorites list.

So, before moving on tomorrow to a new round of whining for my further wants. . ..

. . . just a moment to say THANK YOU, DIRECTV for BBCAHD this morning, which along with TCMHD less than a month ago has significantly increased the value of your offering to this household, and brought a smile to my face, and to my wife's face. Seriously. Much appreciated.

I'm thinking some time today. Something must have gone wrong, or maybe something wasn't launched in the correct way, and it is better to fix it before the actual launch.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

That's mostly because HLN is one of those channels you can just turn on in the morning and forget about it. It plays news most of the day, ideal for airports, coffee shops, office lobbies, dentist/dr. offices, you name it.... everywhere where people sit, and where there is a TV (and isn't catered to sport), a news channel, and specifically one that has actual news at least 15 minutes of every hour is a great choice.

It's not really a channel one would turn in to for a specific program. You turn it on for the morning news, whether you watch that half an hour at 6, 7 or 8 AM.

I don't believe, for instance, many people would DVR content from HLN to watch the next day or in the evening.

You might want to check the link... primetime ratings still beat the others listed.

If you stop responding to them or put them on ignore, then eventually they'll go away.

The problem I have with series like Luther on BBC America is that they are an hour long in the UK. When they are re-broadcast on BBC America, they insert 15 minutes of commercials and still broadcast the show in a one hour format. Thus they cut 15 minutes of the actual program. Cutting 15 minutes from an hour detective show makes that show almost unintelligible. The show is really butchered.

They used to show the full length on the first showing. Now, that does not happen very often.

Hahaha. Swanni is such a clown. Jumped the gun on the criticism. Then his correction is just a line above the premature article. Then he calls NGW National Geographic and claims Ion HD is in the mobile guides while everyone here noticed it wasn't as a hint that it wasn't going to launch.

The problem I have with series like Luther on BBC America is that they are an hour long in the UK. When they are re-broadcast on BBC America, they insert 15 minutes of commercials and still broadcast the show in a one hour format. Thus they cut 15 minutes of the actual program. Cutting 15 minutes from an hour detective show makes that show almost unintelligible. The show is really butchered.

They used to show the full length on the first showing. Now, that does not happen very often.

Hahaha. Swanni is such a clown. Jumped the gun on the criticism. Then his correction is just a line above the premature article. Then he calls NGW National Geographic and claims Ion HD is in the mobile guides while everyone here noticed it wasn't as a hint that it wasn't going to launch.

Yeah I read that.... I was going to comment on the ION guide thing. He obviously doesn't read too thoroughly on here. Yes, ION DISSAPEARED in the guide, but re-appeared yesterday with SD guide data where the other channels came up with HD guide data.

It indicated that ION might simply not be ready for launch. So, FOUR HD channels launched today, which is still impressive.

I wish Swanni would do his own journalism instead of us doing the work for him.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

Yeah I read that.... I was going to comment on the ION guide thing. He obviously doesn't read too thoroughly on here. Yes, ION DISSAPEARED in the guide, but re-appeared yesterday with SD guide data where the other channels came up with HD guide data.

It indicated that ION might simply not be ready for launch. So, FOUR HD channels launched today, which is still impressive.

I wish Swanni would do his own journalism instead of us doing the work for him.

The problem I have with series like Luther on BBC America is that they are an hour long in the UK. When they are re-broadcast on BBC America, they insert 15 minutes of commercials and still broadcast the show in a one hour format. Thus they cut 15 minutes of the actual program. Cutting 15 minutes from an hour detective show makes that show almost unintelligible. The show is really butchered.

They used to show the full length on the first showing. Now, that does not happen very often.

Mike

Very small correction but the episodes in Season 1 are 52 minutes (at least on Netflix streaming). There is still some editing obviously but not 15 minutes worth.

i just talk to someone at ion media and she told me tht ion and directv are still working out a agreement rite now on ion hd so tht is wht it has not been add yet

Makes sense. Coming from a technology background and having worked in big corporations, it isn't too uncommon to get the technology up and running alongside of the legal process, especially in projects that are expected to complete, but just needs a lot of pulling and pushing to get it to move.

So in this instance, the technology is ready, everything was anticipated for launch, but the signatures just haven't been inked. My guess is that the channel will just stay in test, and launch if/when the agreement is signed.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.

Makes sense. Coming from a technology background and having worked in big corporations, it isn't too uncommon to get the technology up and running alongside of the legal process, especially in projects that are expected to complete, but just needs a lot of pulling and pushing to get it to move.

So in this instance, the technology is ready, everything was anticipated for launch, but the signatures just haven't been inked. My guess is that the channel will just stay in test, and launch if/when the agreement is signed.

Would be more like 1:20 when you add the extra commercial time for the extra 15 minutes.

Even so. If you look at the programming of many, many European channels, they don't conform to the "top of the hour" type programming. Granted, SOME of those (such as the BBC) do not run commercials, but most channels do run them just like in the U.S.

You'll see a prime time lineup with start times of say 19:00, 19:40, 20:05, 21:30, 22:10, 23:00 or something like that to match the actual program time, put some commercials around it, etc.

Granted, it is a LOT easier for the public to know "8/9c" as the standard time for your prime time program to begin, but I would much rather see the FULL program, instead of stuff being cut out.

Now, they probably didn't cut out too much (the leader probably might be a minute or longer, they can probably cut off most of the credits or speed them up real fast). Also, they can speed up a program by 1 frame, e.g if the original was shot on 35mm with 24 frames/sec, they can put 25 frames/sec in the edited version, and the human mind wouldn't know the difference....(and they can pull similar trick with full HD digital cameras that shoot in many more frames/sec) but it translates to a 4% savings in time. So they don't always cut out a WHOLE lot, necessarily.... but they so cut out SOME.

[Disclaimer] The definition of "soon" is based solely on DirecTV's interpretation of the word, and all similarities with dictionary definitions of the word "soon" are purely coincidental and should not be interpreted as a time frame that will come to pass within a reasonable amount of time.